Top 5 Tips to Stop Yourself From Getting Food Poisoning

This world is filled with pollution and contamination, so it is important to know how to choose your food wisely so that you do not have to suffer from infections and food poisoning.  It seems like there is a new story about food contamination every week, and any type of food or drink is susceptible, from water contamination to tomatoes, all food industries can suffer from improper handling, parasitic infections and other forms of contamination.

By following a few guidelines, you can reduce your risk of infection and promote safety and a healthy lifestyle.

#1. Limit Use of Antacids and Antibiotics

Your body needs stomach acid to regulate and defend against infections from bacteria or parasites that the body consumes.  For your stomach to perform its job properly, you need stomach acid that can lower the risk of infections in the intestine.  If you suffer from acid reflux or other heartburn symptoms, it may be beneficial to look into alternative therapies that can reduce your symptoms without decreasing the amount of acid in your stomach by constantly taking antacids.

The same general principle applies to antibiotics.  You should only take an antibiotic when you really need it, because it lowers the body’s natural defense system and makes it more difficult for your body to fight other infections.

#2. Add Fiber, Healthy Fruits and Vegetables, and Friendly Bacteria to Your Diet

There is quite a lot of support in the medical field for consuming foods that contain lactobacilli or other essential bacteria that can help your body prevent diarrhea caused by infection or antibiotic use.

If you want to promote more lactobacilli in your system, then you can increase the amount of fiber in your diet so that your body will naturally absorb this vital element to prevent the spread of infection.  Vegetables and fruits contain high sources of fiber, and some wheat products derived from natural whole wheat are suitable for increasing your daily fiber intake.

Other foods to consider adding to your diet are apples, raspberries, blueberries, and carrots, as all of these foods are high in fiber and have antioxidants that promote a healthy body.  You may also want to visit your health food store and add some select herbs and spices to your diet like ginger, turmeric, garlic, and oregano in significant daily quantities to fight infection.

#3. Wash Your Hands Frequently

This one is intuitive, but if you keep your hands clean, then you will be able to prevent the spread infection from hand to mouth, which is the most common way that germs, bacteria, and contamination travel.

#4. Choose Restaurants and Food Vendors Carefully

When you are eating at a restaurant, make sure that the food is freshly prepared when you order it and that it has not been sitting out under a heat lamp for hours.  If you are not sure how the food is stored and cooked in the restaurant that you are ordering from, then avoid foods like soups, sauces, and other items that may be left uncovered in the kitchen. 

Salad bars appeal to many people as a healthy way to eat, but they are often very susceptible to contamination.  You should also avoid food from street vendors, and stay away from any restaurant with flies or open trash cans.

#5. Keep Cooked and Uncooked Foods Separate at Home

You should also make sure that the food that you prepare is well cooked and kept away from other items that you will be consuming.  For example, if you are preparing a chicken dinner, you should clean the chicken and then cook it, but make sure that the chicken is not near any food items that will not be cooked like vegetables or salad.

If you follow these guidelines, you can promote a healthier lifestyle and avoid contamination from microbial and chemical components often found in food products.